Federal Way man accused of threatening Obama to stand trial

After nearly two years in a mental hospital, a Federal Way man accused of threatening President Obama and assaulting a Secret Service agent with a loaded shotgun has been restored to competency and ordered to stand trial.

Anton Caluori, 33, had been housed at the federal government’s Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, Mo., since U.S. District Judge Marsha Pechman last August granted a government motion to forcibly medicate him.

At a competency hearing July 11 in Seattle, Pechman found Caluori had been “restored to competency and that he remains competent to stand trial,” according to the court docket.

Caluori is charged with making threats against the president and assaulting a federal officer. The threat charge carries a possible prison term of up to five years. Assaulting a federal officer could result in a 20-year sentence.

Caluori was arrested Aug. 21, 2012, at a Federal Way apartment he shared with his mother. Police found two assault-style rifles, a shotgun, two handguns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition for each firearm in the house, according to charges.

Federal prosecutors allege Caluori sent a profanity-laced email to the FBI stating, “I will kill the president!!!!!” The email included Caluori’s address and rambling warnings that “dieing (sic) Isn’t frightening … it’s peaceful you … will see …” and threats of a “Cop killing spree … just over the hill.”

When Secret Service Special Agent Bryan Molnar and Federal Way police Officer Andy Hensing announced themselves at Caluori’s apartment, he was slow to answer the door, according to the charges.

When he did, he was draped in a bandoleer “filled with 12-gauge shotgun shells around his torso,” according to the charges. A large black knife was attached to the bandoleer, and prosecutors said Caluori had a handgun strapped to his ankle.

Both officers ordered him to show his hands, but said Caluori instead reached behind his back and pulled out a pump shotgun with a pistol grip and pointed it at the officers.

Hensing grabbed the barrel of the shotgun, and Molnar grabbed Caluori, and they subdued and handcuffed him.

According to the charges, Molnar asked Caluori if he “had any issues with President Obama. Caluori stated, “You don’t have a high enough security clearance, call the CIA or run it up the chain of command.”

Cecil Bryson, Caluori’s father, said in a 2012 interview with The Times that his son was stressed over the economy and couldn’t find work, despite holding a master’s degree and completing a successful five-year tour as a petty officer in the Navy.